Are These Dells Ubuntu PCs?

Analysis: It looks like news of Dell's Ubuntu Linux-powered PCs is leaking. These machines may be available as soon as May 24th. (DesktopLinux.com)

Dell reportedly will release its new Ubuntu-powered computers on May 24. In his blog, LinuxQuestions.org founder Jeremy Garcia writes that a Dell staffer told him, "We will be launching a Linux based OS (Ubuntu) on the E520, 1505 and XPS 410 starting next Thursday, 5/24."

From this employees note, it appears that Dell doesnt expect these system to sell all that well. "We expect these systems to be less than 1 percent of our OS mix for the entire year which is ~20,000 systems annually," he is quoted as saying.

Still, this employee clearly hopes the Ubuntu-powered Dell systems sells better than that, as he reportedly added: "The goal of launching Linux is to continue to give our customers more choices to customize their new Dell. Providing more options to our Linux Enthusiast customer group will hopefully create even more Raving Fans!!"
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Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols is editor at large for Ziff Davis Enterprise. Prior to becoming a technology journalist, Vaughan-Nichols worked at NASA and the Department of Defense on numerous major technological projects. Since then, he's focused on covering the technology and business issues that make a real difference to the people in the industry.